• Two-time world indoor champion Devynne Charlton heading for historic hat-trick
• Charlton, the world record-holder, takes on Europe’s ‘big three’
• Home fans pin their hopes on one of their biggest medal prospects

Devynne Charlton could become the first woman to win three consecutive world indoor 60m hurdles titles, but the chasing pack – comprising mostly of European contenders – will be doing their best to prevent that piece of history being made.

A 30-year-old may still have to seek her first major victory during the summer season, but indoors, she is undoubtedly one of the best in history. Now, as one of the 12 gold medallists from last year's World Indoor Championships, she will defend her glory in Toruń.

Nicknamed ‘Sonic’ due to her exceptional speed and explosive acceleration, Charlton’s destiny was to become an athlete. Her father, David, represented The Bahamas in the hurdles at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki, and met Charlton’s mother on the track.

Charlton’s major medal collection started with her silver at the 2022 World Indoors in Belgrade. That became simply a prelude for what happened at the next two editions of the championships.

Charlton won in Glasgow, clocking a world record of 7.65, and then retained her title in Nanjing, becoming just the third woman in history to win two consecutive 60 m hurdles titles. Lolo Jones and Nia Ali, both of the US, are the only other athletes to have achieved the same.

“There is always going to be some level of pressure, but at the same time, I kind of put it in the back of my head,” Charlton said recently.

She leads this year’s world list with 7.77, which she clocked at the Copernicus Cup, held at the same Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena where the World Indoors will be staged.

Ditaji Kambundji, Nadine Visser, and Pia Skrzyszowska – all of whom have clocked 7.78 this year – followed Charlton home in that race and they’ll be out for revenge when they return to Toruń.

Skrzyszowska, the bronze medallist from Glasgow two years ago, will be particularly keen to put on a good show in front of her home crowd. It was on this very track in Toruń that she recently became the Polish indoor champion.

“This season has been so consistent, steady and fast that I’m happy with it,” she said. “I’m focusing on putting it all together so that I can do well at the World Championships in Toruń.

Kambundji produced a surprise victory at the European Indoor Championships last year in a continental record of 7.67, elevating her to equal second on the world all-time list. She showed it was no fluke, though, when claiming the world title in Tokyo later in 2025.

She finished just 0.01 behind Charlton in Toruń last month, and at last year’s World Indoor Championships.

Other contenders include USA’s Alia Armstrong, Laeticia Bapté of France and Megan Simmonds of Jamaica.

Piotrek Przyborowski for World Athletics

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